A Day Without Pay

As people around the country return to their jobs after the Fourth of July weekend, thousands of National Guard and Reserve soldiers are wondering if they will be able to keep theirs.

This week marks the first round of defense furloughs, a part of Congress’s automatic budget cuts. While the full impact of the cuts have not yet been announced, over 650,000 people employed by the Defense Department will be forced to take 11 days without pay between today and September.

Unfortunately, the problems may not stop at the end of this year. The Defense Department is only allowed to give employees 22 furlough days a year, so if Congress allows the same automatic budget cuts to continue without cuts in spending, the day off for employees may turn into a layoff.

It will not be easy for any military family to adjust to these pay cuts - Cuts that some experts say will amount to 20% of a soldier's salary.

To read more about the upcoming budget cuts, check out yesterday’s Washington Post report on defense furloughs here.

The American Jobs for American Heroes campaign was founded to help members of the National Guard and veterans find stable, civilian employment, something that proves more significant with the growing uncertainty coming from Washington.

The upcoming budget cuts mean that National Guard members will need our help more than ever. If you are already a supporter of our campaign, please share our organization’s information with anyone searching for an opportunity to help American veterans. If you are not yet a member of our campaign, take a look at our website and follow us on Twitter - @USJobs4USHeroes

Happy 4th of July!

We at the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign hope that everyone has a happy, fun, and safe 4^th of July weekend!

We hope you enjoy the fireworks, BBQ, and sunshine while you celebrate our country’s independence.  We also hope you take a moment to remember the sacrifices of all the brave men and women who have protected and defended us for the past 237 years.

There is no better way to recognize the sacrifices made by our military forces than by helping to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed after their service is complete. Our mission at American Jobs for American Heroes is to connect unemployed National Guard members, veterans, and spouses with American employers and make their transition from the military to professional life as smooth as possible.

If you would like to join our cause by posting jobs for veterans, please check out our website or follow us on Twitter - @USJobs4USHeroes

Have a great 4^th of July weekend!

It's Easy to Promote the National Guard Job Posting Campaign

Nearly 700 employers all over the U.S. have registered to post jobs for thousands of unemployed National Guard members.  Job postings are plugged directly into the National Guard Employment Network in which hundreds of state National Guard employment counselors are working one-on-one with Guard members to match them with jobs.  All services to employers and candidates are free.

If you are a supporter of the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign, use one of these graphics and the sample text below to promote the campaign!

It’s easy: The graphics are sized to fit perfectly in your Facebook timeline.  You can download one or both by right-clicking on the graphic, and then choosing "Save as" or "Save Image".  Save it to a folder on your hard drive.

Sample Text For You to Post

Nearly 700 companies across America have registered to post jobs for unemployed National Guard members in this nonprofit campaign. Postings are flowing every week to state National Guard employment counselors who work one-on-one with Guard members needing jobs. Register on the campaign website - http://www.CenterForAmerica.org/pledge/ng/ajah_mm.html. No costs to employers or applicants!

As always, thank you for your continued dedication and support to our nation's heroes!

If you are new to the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign, please take a look at our website or follow us on Twitter today! - @USJobs4USHeroes

How Military Friendly is Your City?

In a follow up to their list of top 100 Military Friendly Employers, Victory Media has released their list of the top 50 cities on the country for veterans.

The list ranks cities by the number of job openings at Military Friendly employers, the number of veteran-owned businesses, the cost of living, and unemployment rates. Out of the 381 cities examined by Victory Media, only 12.5% made their cut of top fifty.

Texas topped this year’s list with three cities in the top five: San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. San Antonio has 102 military friendly employers, 41 military friendly schools, and 663 veteran-owned businesses.

Other major cities that made the cut include Phoenix, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

You can see the full list here.

To help your city make the top of the list and help connect unemployed National Guard members, veterans, and spouses with American employers, check out the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign at our website or follow us on Twitter today! - @USJobs4USHeroes

The American Fence Association and the National Wood Flooring Association Highlight American Jobs for American Heroes

Both the American Fence Association and the National Wood Flooring Association included feature stories in their trade magazines this May supporting the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign.

Hardwood Floors has been the official magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association since its first publication in 1988. It serves as an excellent educational tool for flooring industry and is essential to businesses and professionals across the country. The association represents all facets of the hardwood flooring industry, from manufacturers and distributors to retailers and installers.

Fencepost Magazine has been the official publication of the American Fence Association since 1988. The association has more than 900 members and 30 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and 18 other countries around the world, representing over 8,500 employers and employees in the fence, deck, and railing industry. The AFA promotes peer-to-peer networking and industry-specific education and training, all aimed to grow and improve businesses.

We are incredibly grateful for the mention and kind words by both organizations. Thank you to NWFA and AFA for your support!

You can read the full article in Hardwood Floors here.

The full article by Fencepost Magazine is on page 38 of their Third Quarter publication, or you can read it here.

Check out the American Jobs for American Heroes campaign by visiting our website today!

U.S. Senators Call Hiring our Heroes a “Win-Win”

When the Department of Homeland Security needs help finding skilled workers to run the security equipment and technology to protect our borders, who do they turn to?

Their top choice for the job is National Guard members, reservists, and veterans, as Rick Maze of the Army Times reported earlier today.

In fact, the Department of Homeland Security has advocated for an amendment in the Senate that would offer signing bonuses, incentives, and even student loan repayment to veterans who take border security jobs.

According to Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AK) and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), passing the amendment this week was a no-brainer. For Sen. Johanns, a co-sponsor of the legislation, it is “a win-win amendment that encourages our current and former military service members to pursue jobs in border security, adding to the ranks of highly trained professionals dedicated to protecting our nation’s border.”

Sen. Pryor, another co-sponsor of the amendment, agreed with his colleague and added that “we need the best and brightest to stand guard at our border, and I can think of no individuals better trained for this role than our military members and veterans. They've shown time and time again that they’re dedicated to serving our nation.”

The amendment, S. 744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, will now be sent to the full Senate for debate as part of a major immigration bill. Senate leaders hope to reach a decision on the bill by the end of June.

If passed, the bill would offer those who take a full-time job as a border patrol agent up to $80,000 in repayment of student loans, along with their full salary. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security would offer recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses.

This legislation is just one example of ways to put the skills of American service members to use in today's workforce. The American Jobs for American Heroes campaign is working with employers around the country to find opportunities for the unique and valuable skills that our heroes bring home from combat.

To help us find jobs for National Guard members, reservists, and veterans, please take a look at the American Jobs for American Heroes website today.

National Guard Fast Facts

If you were following us on Twitter this week, you probably noticed that we were sharing some Fast Facts about the brave men and women who make up the US National Guard.  If you missed them, here they are.

The unemployment rate for members of the National Guard is hovering about 20%, 2x rate of all military veterans as a group.

There are more than 60,000 unemployed National Guard members looking for jobs right now.

Only one in four applicants makes it into the National Guard.

The National Guard provides 107 types of training.

Of the 60,000+ unemployed members, about half are 30 years old or younger.

The National Guard is the oldest part of the military, it's 376 years old.

The National Guard operates the air defense system protecting Washington DC.

50,000 Guardsmembers helped the Gulf states after Hurricane Katrina.

Twenty US presidents have served in the militia or the National Guard.

On any given day, an average of 4700 National Guard members are away from home in support of national security.

The army national guard has fought in every war in American history.

Remember to follow AJAH on Twitter to keep up to date on our campaign to connect veterans, members of the National Guard, reservists and their families with American employers.  Follow us and help us find jobs for heroes - @USJobs4USHeroes